Beach rocks and shells?

[Goby Angyl]

Is there any harm in putting pieces of rock, wood, and or shells collected off the beach in your aquarium? Should they be washed first? I know the beach near a highly populated area is where it's the most polluted and that sand and water close to shore is out of the question. My tank is a ten gallon and I just added the saltwater and sand September 25th. No live rock yet.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there any harm in putting pieces of rock, wood, and or shells collected off the beach in your aquarium? Should they be washed first? I know the beach near a highly populated area is where it's the most polluted and that sand and water close to shore is out of the question. My tank is a ten gallon and I just added the saltwater and sand September 25th. No live rock yet.

Where do you live?

 

[Goby Angyl]

New Jersey. What truckers call "The Garbage State" thanks to landfills by the Meadow Lands... People have to actually get off the highway to see why it's called the Garden State, but it does live up to the name.

I pick stuff off the shore sometimes when I visit family in Long Branch. It's the south/central region.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't use any wood in the tank it will turn the water yellow or brownish - leached tannins, and soften the water which you don;t want in a marine tank - shells are fine - wash them well or boil them.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Andy. Shells are probably fine with a good rinsing/scrubbing. I would not place any rocks in the tank as they will likely have developed a "patina" of life that will not live year round at tropical coral reef temperatures.

 

[Goby Angyl]

Don't use any wood in the tank it will turn the water yellow or brownish - leached tannins, and soften the water which you don;t want in a marine tank - shells are fine - wash them well or boil them.

I forgot about the tannins.

I'll be sure to scrub down or boil anything I pick off the shore that the tank (insert lisp) just simply can Not live without. :lol: Doubt I'll add anything from the beach unless I come across something really nice.

I agree with Andy. Shells are probably fine with a good rinsing/scrubbing. I would not place any rocks in the tank as they will likely have developed a "patina" of life that will not live year round at tropical coral reef temperatures.

I'd scrub/boil it first.

I often find these rocks that are rounded and in strange shapes from being sanded smooth. They look a bit like pieces of concrete rubble that got ground down in the surf.

There's one large one I've had lying around my room for awhile because it looks cool, but it's been dished out into a broad cave and would make a great spot for something to burrow under or just hide in, would even allow a current to flow through.

Thank you all.